Мертві душі
Chapter 3
Butthegownneverdoesgetburntorwearout,forthereasonthattheladyistoocareful;whereforethepieceofshabbymaterialreposesinitsunmade-upconditionuntilthepriestadvisesthatitbegiventothenieceofsomewidowedsister,togetherwithaquantityofothersuchrubbish.
Chichikovapologisedforhavingdisturbedthehouseholdwithhisunexpectedarrival.
“Notatall,notatall,”repliedthelady.“ButinwhatdreadfulweatherGodhasbroughtyouhither!Whatwindandwhatrain!Youcouldnothelplosingyourway.Prayexcuseusforbeingunabletomakebetterpreparationsforyouatthistimeofnight.”
Suddenlytherebrokeinuponthehostess’wordsthesoundofastrangehissing,asoundsoloudthatthegueststartedinalarm,andthemoresoseeingthatitincreaseduntiltheroomseemedfilledwithadders.Onglancingupwards,however,herecoveredhiscomposure,forheperceivedthesoundtobeemanatingfromtheclock,whichappearedtobeinamindtostrike.Tothehissingsoundtheresucceededawheezingone,until,puttingforthitsbestefforts,thethingstrucktwowithasmuchclatterasthoughsomeonehadbeenhittinganironpotwithacudgel.Thatdone,thependulumreturnedtoitsright-left,right-leftoscillation.
Chichikovthankedhishostesskindly,andsaidthatheneedednothing,andshemustnotputherselfabout:onlyforrestwashelonging—thoughalsoheshouldliketoknowwhitherhehadarrived,andwhetherthedistancetothecountryhouseofland-ownerSobakevitchwasanythingverygreat.
